Author: France 24

After President Donald Trump signed a bill into law on Wednesday that funds the US government, his administration ordered federal workers to report back to work this Thursday. In this edition, we take a look at what the reopening of the US government entails after the longest shutdown in the country’s history. Over 1 million federal workers will have to receive back pay, and 42 million low-income Americans will be able to once again claim food assistance. 

At first, its soft cushions, luxurious rugs and fine china evoke the warm hospitality of an Afghan home. Yet as the immersive theatrical experience progresses, the audience feels the walls closing in, the sky outside darkens and the narrator’s stories become increasingly bleak in tone. “One’s own room: Inside Kabul” is an artistic take on the circumstances Afghan women and girls are currently living in: limited to their homes, with scarce opportunities for education. Its co-creator, Caroline Gillet, tells us about creating this space based on the accounts of Raha and Marwa, the two Afghan women whose stories made up…

The occupied West Bank has been seeing an uptick in violence in recent weeks, as Palestinians harvest their olive trees in an annual ritual. The UN recorded more than 126 Israeli settler attacks on Palestinians and their land since the start of the olive harvest season. Story by Jennie Shin.

In a wide-ranging interview with Gavin Lee, British MP and Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Emily Thornberry offers a candid and reflective discussion that spans the complexities of global diplomacy, foreign policy, and the stark challenges of real governance. We explore raging conflicts in Gaza, Ukraine, and Sudan, alongside political turbulence at home within the frat boy culture of British politics. The conversation includes in-depth analysis of the BBC as a century-old institution: its crucial role in the digital age of disinformation, the integrity of its journalism, and the political pressures it faces, both at home and abroad, as a publicly…

Former Spanish football association president Luis Rubiales was hit by a flurry of eggs launched by his own uncle at the book launch for his memoir late Thursday. Rubiales was found guilty of sexual assault by Spain’s High Court in February after kissing footballer Jenni Hermoso without her consent.

Pakistan is one of the worst affected countries by period poverty. According to UNICEF, nearly 44 percent of girls lack access to the minimum resources needed to manage their periods, whether at home, at school or at work. Limited access to menstrual hygiene products, clean water and sanitation facilities, coupled with a lack of information, has serious consequences, preventing many girls and women from attending school or work. Our correspondents report.

The week, we head to Belem in Brazil where COP30, the UN’s annual climate summit, is taking place. As rich nations drag their feet, will the Global South take the lead in climate action? We put the question to our guest, Charra Tesfaye Terfassa, economic and climate prosperity programme manager at the Open Society.

He creates images of a past, present and future that are tantalisingly close to reality: Phillip Toledano’s approach to photography harnesses technology, style and a sharp sense of humour. He joins us to talk about his latest book “Another England” and tells us how manipulating these scenes using artificial intelligence brings another layer to our ideas about “truth”. Phillip also talks about putting himself at the centre of his artwork, and we discuss the technological developments that are revolutionising the way we make and consume art and culture.

France clinched a spot at the 2026 World Cup with a 4-0 win over Ukraine on Thursday as the country marked the 10th anniversary of the 2015 Paris attacks. Portugal were forced to wait after a 2-0 loss in Dublin, while Italy’s late goal in Moldova delayed Norway’s qualification.

Federal agencies have started reopening after the longest-ever US government shutdown… but it’s likely the lingering effects of it will be felt for months. Scotland says it plans to issue its own government bonds, nicknaming them “kilts”. And a Russian humanoid robot falls flat on its face.